Agenda, decisions and minutes

To elect the Chair of the Council for the 2023-24 municipal year.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Chair will be elected by secret ballot.

The elected Chair will sign and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Councillor Peter Fane was elected as Chair of Council for 2023-24.

Councillor Bridget Smith nominated and Councillor Corinne Garvie seconded Councillor Peter Fane for the position of Chair of Council. There being no other nominations Councillor Peter Fane was duly elected as Chair of Council for 2023-24 by secret ballot with 31 votes in favour.

Councillor Fane read out and signed his declaration of acceptance of office form.

To elect the Vice Chair of the Council for the 2023-24 municipal year.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Vice Chair shall be elected by secret ballot.

The elected Vice Chair to sign and read out the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

Councillor Peter Sandford was elected as Vice-Chair of Council for 2023-24.

Councillor Bridget Smith nominated and Councillor Anna Bradnam seconded Councillor Peter Sandford as Vice-Chair of Council. There were no other nominations and so Councillor Peter Sandford was elected as Vice-Chair of Council for 2023-24 by secret ballot with 32 votes in favour.

Councillor Sandford read out and signed his declaration of acceptance of office form.

To receive Apologies for Absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Bearpark, Graham Cone, Libby Earle, Pippa Heylings, Carla Hofman, Mark Howell, William Jackson-Wood, Richard Stobart and Eileen Wilson.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest in items on this agenda.

Councillor Heather Williams declared a registerable interest as a member of the Greater Cambridge Partnership Joint Assembly. 

Members are requested to inform Democratic Services of any changes in their Register of Members’ Financial and Other Interests form.

The Chair reminded Members that Democratic Services should be informed of any changes to their Register or Members’ Financial and Other Interests form.

To authorise the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on the 30 March 2023 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 March were agreed as a correct record, subject to the correction of the word “simply” to “simple” at the top of page 23 in minute 15(a). 

To receive any announcements from the Chair, Leader, the executive or the head of paid service.

Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of Council, thanked Councillor Anna Bradnam for her service as Chair of Council.

The Leader welcomed John Murphy, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Head of Legal, to his first meeting of Council.

The Leader explained that Cabinet had agreed to extend the trial of the four-day week for a further 12 months and subject to the approval of Cambridge City Council, to undertake a three-month trial in the Shared Waste Service.

To note all petitions received since the last Council meeting.

None received. 

To answer any questions asked by the public.

The deadline for receipt of public questions is midnight on Friday 19 May 2023.

The Council’s scheme for public speaking at remote meetings may be inspected here:

Public Questions at Remote Meetings 

None received. 

The Leader to notify the Council of the number of members she is appointing to the Cabinet, their names and their areas of responsibility.

Council noted the Leader’s appointment of the following councillors to Cabinet for 2023-24:

Leader: Councillor Bridget Smith

Deputy Leader: Councillor Brian Milnes

Lead Cabinet Member for Housing: Councillor John Batchelor

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities: Councillor Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Planning: Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins

Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing: Councillor Henry Batchelor

Lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development: Councillor Peter McDonald

Lead Cabinet Member for Resources: Councillor John Williams

Council noted the Leader’s appointment of the following councillors to Cabinet for 2023-24:

Leader: Councillor Bridget Smith

Deputy Leader: Councillor Brian Milnes

Lead Cabinet Member for Housing: Councillor John Batchelor

Lead Cabinet Member for Communities: Councillor Bill Handley

Lead Cabinet Member for Planning: Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins

Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing: Councillor Henry Batchelor

Lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development: Councillor Peter McDonald

Lead Cabinet Member for Resources: Councillor John Williams

To receive the report on proportionality and

·         Allocate seats on committees

·         Receive Group leaders’ nominations to seats on committees

·         Appoint Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees

Council agreed the following allocation of seats on committees:

Advisory and Joint Committees

Council received the Group Leaders’ nominations for the following Committees:

The Elections and Democratic Services Manager presented this report, which sought Council’s approval of the allocation of seats on committees and the appointment of Members and substitute Members to these committees. The report also requested that Council appointed the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of committees; and reappointed the Lead Independent Person and Deputy Independent Person.

The Leader proposed an amendment to the report and nominated Councillor Dr Martin Cahn as Chair of Planning and Councillor Peter Fane as Vice Chair of Planning. This was seconded by Councillor Brian Milnes and agreed by affirmation.

Councillor Heather Williams proposed Councillor Graham Cone as Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee and Councillor Stephen Drew as Vice Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee. This was seconded by the Leader and agreed by affirmation.

The Leader proposed and Councillor Brian Milnes seconded the recommendations in the report, as amended. A vote was taken and by affirmation:

Council agreed the following allocation of seats on committees:

Advisory and Joint Committees

Council received the Group Leaders’ nominations for the following Committees:

To invite the Council to make appointments to the following Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority bodies for the municipal year 2023-24:

·         Combined Authority Board

·         Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Combined Authority Audit and Governance Committee

Council agreed to make the following appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority:

The Chair presented this report which sought Council’s approval for the appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. It was noted that the Chief Executive was authorised to make amendments to these appointments should there be a change in political balance across the combined authority area.

The Leader proposed and Councillor Brian Milnes the recommendations in the report and by affirmation:

Council agreed to make the following appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority:

To approve nominations for non-executive outside body appointments.

Council agreed to appoint Councillors to the following Outside Bodies:

Council agreed to make the following appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority:

The Chair of Council presented this report, which sought Council’s approval to the appointment of councillors onto various Outside Bodies.

Councillor Tom Bygott recommended that the title of the Cambridgeshire and District Blue Plaque Scheme should be corrected to the Cambridge and District Blue Plaque Scheme. Councillor Sue Ellington reported that the Swavesey Village College Community Committee no longer existed and should be removed from the list. With these amendments:

Council agreed to appoint Councillors to the following Outside Bodies:

Council agreed to make the following appointments to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority:

To designate the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee as its crime and disorder committee in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

Council agreed to designate the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee as its crime and disorder committee in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

The Chair proposed and Councillor Sally Ann Hart seconded the recommendation in the agenda. A vote was taken and by affirmation Council agreed to designate the Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee as its crime and disorder committee in accordance with sections 19 and 20 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

To receive the Scrutiny and Overview Committee Annual Report for 2022-23.

Councillor Stephen Drew presented the Annual Report from the Scrutiny and Overview Committee. He stated that the Committee had scrutinised a wide range of topics, including the regular review of key performance indicators, facilities at Northstowe, the development of the Local Plan, the four-day week trial in the Shared Waste Service, housing of Ukrainian refugees and support for residents during the cost of living crisis. He thanked Cabinet members for their attendance and officers for imparting their expert knowledge whilst advising the Committee. He also thanked members of the Committee for their work and wished Councillor Graham Cone every success in chairing the Committee during the following year.

Council noted the report.

To receive the Civic Affairs Committee Annual Report for 2022-23.

Councillor Anna Bradnam presented the annual report of the Civic Affairs Committee, which had received updates on Code of Conduct complaints and recommended the appointment of political group assistants. She thanked the members of the Committee for their diligence and the officers supporting the Committee for their guidance.

Council noted the report.

To receive the Leader of Opposition’s Annual Statement for 2022-23.

Councillor Heather Williams made her annual statement as the Leader of the Opposition. She explained that whilst it was the duty of the opposition to hold the administration to account, she welcomed the unanimous support for the recent motion opposing the intimidation and abuse of councillors. She was pleased to welcome back Councillor Tom Bygott to the authority, but expressed her sadness at the passing of Councillor John Loveluck.

Congestion charge

Councillor Heather Williams urged the Council’s representatives on the Greater Cambridge Partnership to withdraw their support for the congestion charge, for which she stated there was no mandate, noting that it had been opposed by petitions signed by tens of thousands of people. She expressed her disappointment at the administration’s refusal to support a referendum on this issue.

Coton Orchard

Councillor Heather Williams opposed the proposed Cambourne to Cambridge bypass through Coton Orchard and suggested that the support for this proposal by the Council’s representative on the Greater Cambridge Partnership was contrary to the authority’s Green to our Core objective.

Four-day week

Councillor Heather Williams opposed the decision of Cabinet to extend the four-day week trial, which she asserted should have been taken by full Council, as it fundamentally changed the way in which the authority was run.

Cost of living

Councillor Heather Williams stated that Council had unanimously supported a motion to support residents with the cost of living crisis. However, the administration had then decided to increase Council Tax, housing rents and community room charges, which the opposition had voted against.

Council noted the annual statement without debate.

There have been no meetings, so there are no reports.

It was noted that there had been no meetings of the Combined Authority Board since the last Council meeting.

There have been no meetings, so there are no reports.

It was noted that there had been no meetings of the Greater Cambridge Partnership since the last Council meeting.

A period of 30 minutes will be allocated for this item to include those questions where notice has been provided (as set out on the agenda below) and questions which may be asked without notice.

Members wishing to ask a question without notice should indicate this intention to the Interim Democratic Services Team Manager prior to the commencement of the item.  Members’ names will be drawn at random by the Chairman until there are no further questions or until the expiration of the time period. 

The Chair reported that three questions from the last Council meeting had not been answered due to a lack of time. Two of these had received written responses, that were included on the agenda. The third question, from Councillor Sue Ellington, was the first question on the agenda.

As there has now been ample opportunity to analyse Cambridgeshire Water Draft resources plan, when will the Leader be informing residents and us alike of the impact this has on the housing growth agenda being pushed for by this council?

It was noted that there had been insufficient time to answer the following question at the last meeting of Council and so, at Councillor Sue Ellington’s request, it had been brought forward to this meeting.

As there has now been ample opportunity to analyse Cambridge Water Draft resources plan, when will the Leader be informing residents and us alike of the impact this has on the housing growth agenda being pushed for by this council?

Councillor Tumi Hawkins reported that this authority had agreed a joint response with Cambridge City Council to Cambridge Water’s plan. The housing need strategy had been independently assessed as requiring more housing, in part due to the success of the Greater Cambridge local economy. However, this identified need was a starting point for the Joint Local Plan, which would be considered later this year and the availability of water would be a vital factor. The Council would continue to engage with Cambridge Water, the Environment Agency and DEFRA on the provision of water to the District.

In her supplementary question, Councillor Sue Ellington asked if the Council was pressing the Environment Agency and Cambridge Water to ensure that there was a sufficient water supply to allow the authority to deliver the number of houses it wanted to build. Councillor Tumi Hawkins replied that the Council was currently implementing the local plan agreed by the previous administration. The responsibility of water supply lay with Cambridge Water and not this authority. Councillor Heather Williams stated that this local plan had received near unanimous support and the only councillor who opposed it was from the Conservative group.

Will the Leader be seeking advice and insight from the newly appointed CEO of the CPCA about his time setting up and running a unitary authority in North Northamptonshire with a view to improving the crazy-paving landscape of costly and disjointed local authorities in Cambridgeshire?

Will the Leader be seeking advice and insight from the newly appointed CEO of the CPCA about his time setting up and running a unitary authority in North Northamptonshire with a view to improving the crazy-paving landscape of costly and disjointed local authorities in Cambridgeshire?

The Leader reported that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority was a partnership organisation and she looked forward to working with our partners and the new Chief Executive in planning the future of Cambridgeshire. She was due to meet the new Chief Executive in two weeks’ time.

Councillor Daniel Lentell did not consider his original question had been answered. As his supplementary question, he asked whether the Leader agreed with the former Chair of the County Council, that one of the fundamental flaws of the Greater Cambridge Partnership was that Huntingdonshire, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire were not represented and that the Greater Cambridge Partnership was unnecessary as Cambridgeshire had an elected Mayor. The Chair ruled that the supplementary question did not arise from the original question and the Leader was under no obligation to respond. The Leader opted not to provide an answer to the question.

What is the Leader doing to pressure the County council to enable our residents access to Royston recycling centre as the barring of South Cambs residents not only makes them drive twice the distance in many cases, which is not good for the environment, and the likely increase in fly tipping this will cause?

What is the Leader doing to pressure the County Council to enable our residents access to Royston recycling centre as the barring of South Cambs residents not only makes them drive twice the distance in many cases, which is not good for the environment, and the likely increase in fly tipping this will cause?

Councillor Henry Batchelor replied that the County Council had acted quickly to negotiate with Hertfordshire County Council to ensure that the district’s residents could use recycling sites in Hertfordshire, including the site in Royston.

As her supplementary question Councillor Heather Williams asked for assurances that action would be taken to prevent a reoccurrence of such problems in the future. Councillor Henry Batchelor stated that this authority would continue to work in partnership with the County Council on any future issues.

Can the leader outline the current plans for the next three years of social housing in South Cambridgeshire and explain how this will benefit residents? 

Can the leader outline the current plans for the next three years of social housing in South Cambridgeshire and explain how this will benefit residents? 

Councillor John Batchelor stated that in 2022/23, 91 new council homes had been purchased and the aim was to buy 225 more council homes over the next three years. The housing stock currently numbered approximately 5,600 units. The Asset Management team was carrying out a stock condition survey that would result in an extensive refurbishment of the Council’s housing stock, which would also reduce its carbon footprint. The Housing Strategy Team were working with developers to deliver more affordable housing. 504 affordable homes had been delivered in 2022/23 and in the next three years 1,565 affordable units were expected to be built. The Housing Advice and Options Team continued to allocate social housing in a fair and transparent manner and provided tailored options for residents in need to prevent homelessness.  Ermine Street Housing Limited had invested over £100 million to purchase/lease 870 properties that were being rented out in the private sector market. Ermine Street Housing Limited would also contribute over £4 million to the Council in the coming year.

There was no supplementary question.

Our chalk streams in South Cambs are some of the most precious and most vulnerable in the world, threatened by sewage pollution with worrying levels of e-coli (faecal bacteria) which makes them unsafe for families and dogs and fatal for local wildlife, all whilst water companies rake in huge?profits and pay out bumper bonuses. Following on from my motion last year to stop the dumping of raw sewage, what more can the Council do to ensure greater scrutiny of water quality in our chalk streams?? 

In the absence of Councillor Pippa Heylings, Councillor Geoff Harvey read out the following question:

Our chalk streams in South Cambs are some of the most precious and most vulnerable in the world, threatened by sewage pollution with worrying levels of e-coli (faecal bacteria) which makes them unsafe for families and dogs and fatal for local wildlife, all whilst water companies rake in huge profits and pay out bumper bonuses. Following on from my motion last year to stop the dumping of raw sewage, what more can the Council do to ensure greater scrutiny of water quality in our chalk streams?

Councillor Tumi Hawkins explained that whilst the Council was not responsible for water or sewage, our views had been made clear to Anglian Water, by highlighting the importance of drainage infrastructure to address water quality issues. Pressure would be maintained and a formal study was being undertaken to consider bathing water designation for part of the River Cam in the District. The outcome of this study would be known shortly and may result in an application to DEFRA. There was no supplementary question.

Thank you to all those involved in the 4-Day-Week trial, a bold and important initiative at a time when all local authorities – and indeed public sector organisations generally – are facing severe and increasing difficulties recruiting to vacancies in the workforce and retaining experienced and valuable staff, for reasons that are becoming better understood.  These include higher pay in the private sector, but also the build-up of multiple public service pressures in the wake of tumultuous events of the past several years, with the overlay of massive societal change.  

One of the key positives of the trial is signs of improved health and wellbeing of our staff.  I was struck by a conversation with a member of staff last week who said that already, the trial had changed his life for the better.  At home he is tackling jobs and responsibilities, getting physical exercise and mental relaxation, and has time needed to nurture family relationships.  At work he is applying himself in a more energetic and smarter way and is more focused and productive. 

We know that the mental and physical health of our population is worse than before Covid, and that improvements must be made.  A focus on improving health via the workplace is an important building block used by public health strategists in seeking to improve population health.  

In light of this, how will learning from the trial be shared with our Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health and Integrated Care System partners, as part of our joint population health improvement goals? 

Thank you to all those involved in the 4-Day-Week trial, a bold and important initiative at a time when all local authorities – and indeed public sector organisations generally – are facing severe and increasing difficulties recruiting to vacancies in the workforce and retaining experienced and valuable staff, for reasons that are becoming better understood.  These include higher pay in the private sector, but also the build-up of multiple public service pressures in the wake of tumultuous events of the past several years, with the overlay of massive societal change.  

One of the key positives of the trial is signs of improved health and wellbeing of our staff.  I was struck by a conversation with a member of staff last week who said that already, the trial had changed his life for the better.  At home he is tackling jobs and responsibilities, getting physical exercise and mental relaxation, and has time needed to nurture family relationships.  At work he is applying himself in a more energetic and smarter way and is more focused and productive. 

We know that the mental and physical health of our population is worse than before Covid, and that improvements must be made.  A focus on improving health via the workplace is an important building block used by public health strategists in seeking to improve population health.  

In light of this, how will learning from the trial be shared with our Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health and Integrated Care System partners, as part of our joint population health improvement goals? 

The Leader explained that there was an opportunity to share learning as a result of the four-day week trial with organisations such as the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Public Health Board and other partners. Each organisation would then need to consider what benefit could be derived from this data. It should be noted that there was already a wide range of flexible working arrangements in these organisations and a “one size fits all” arrangement was unlikely to work. However, it was hoped that the data from the Council’s four-day week trial would assist our partners now and in the future.

The latest survey on letsrecycle.com shows the top performing councils have recycling rates in excess of 60%. Meanwhile, the Greater Cambridge Waste Service ranks 69th out of 308 councils, with a recycling rate under 50%. Can the Leader tell us what measures are being put in place to elevate Greater Cambridge to the Premier League of recycling councils? 

The latest survey on letsrecycle.com shows the top performing councils have recycling rates in excess of 60%. Meanwhile, the Greater Cambridge Waste Service ranks 69th out of 308 councils, with a recycling rate under 50%. Can the Leader tell us what measures are being put in place to elevate Greater Cambridge to the Premier League of recycling councils?

Councillor Henry Batchelor provided a brief summary of how the top performing councils were achieving recycling rates in excess of 60%, including a weekly food waste collection, a week dry recycling collection, additional collection of electrical goods and textiles and a fully chargeable garden waste collection service. The joint waste collection service had successfully undergone a three-year trial of separate food waste collection in March 2023 and this would be rolled out either when it became affordable to both authorities or when it became mandatory by central Government. The collection and recycling of small electrical goods had been increased with the provision of pink recycling banks. Mobile banks were likely to be used more in the future.

As his supplementary question, Councillor Peter Sandford asked if the recycling arrangements with the County Council could be reviewed to improve performance. Councillor Henry Batchelor explained that the County Council was tied in to a long-term PFI contract, which was a complex legal agreement that he understood would be difficult to renegotiate. However, the Greater Cambridge Waste Service was committed to increasing its recycling rate.

Does the whole administration share the Leader’s view that the doubling of the time taken by this Council to process Housing Benefit claims between January and March 2023 is “really minor”?

Does the whole administration share the Leader’s view that the doubling of the time taken by this Council to process Housing Benefit claims between January and March 2023 is “really minor”?

Councillor Stephen Drew asked if the question could be asked in Councillor Dr Richard Williams’ absence, as had been the case with Councillor Pippa Heylings’ question. Councillor Heather Williams stated she had not been aware that this was an option and was happy to ask the question in Councillor Dr Richard Williams’ absence. She asked for clarification of the process. The Chief Executive agreed to ensure advice on this matter was sent to all Councillors. The Chair stated that Councillor Dr Richard Williams had asked to be provided with a written response to his question if he was unable to ask it himself and so Council would comply with this request.

To note the Chair’s engagements since the last Council meeting:

12 April - The Chair attended an Award Event at Bar Hill Village Hall attended by the Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

3 May -  The Chair was delighted to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.

Council noted the Chair’s engagements since the last Council meeting. 

The Chair presented Councillor Anna Bradnam with a commemorative badge, which was provided to all former Chairs.